Cornerstones Cornerstones and Orr Group’s extensive partnership led to a 136% surge in individual giving revenue, a successful 50th-anniversary celebration, a revamped major gifts program, a new VP of Resource Development, and expanded donor support, bolstering Cornerstones’ mission in Northern Virginia.
Challenge Since 1970, Cornerstones has played a vital role as a leading anchor organization in Northern Virginia, helping residents find pathways to self-sufficiency through safety-net and wrap-around human services programs. Approaching its 50th Anniversary, Cornerstones identified the need to boost philanthropic revenue growth, address a major gap in development capacity, specifically major gifts, and create a comprehensive fundraising roadmap, while also engaging major gift prospects for meaningful contributions to their mission.
Solution To address these challenges, Cornerstones partnered with Orr Group. Together, we conducted a thorough development assessment to craft a practical fundraising roadmap for future philanthropic growth while simultaneously taking on the role of Cornerstones’ Major Gift Officer, revitalizing the major gifts program and building a strong portfolio of major gift prospects. Our partnership extended further, with Orr Group helping plan and execute Cornerstones’ 50th-anniversary celebration, while also serving as the interim Director of Individual Giving, Director of Corporate Relations, and Database Manager. Our Talent team also successfully led the search for Cornerstones’ new Vice President of Resource Development. Throughout our partnership, we collaborated closely with Cornerstones’ Development and Marketing teams to enhance annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving programs. We leveraged Cornerstones’ milestone event to bolster the corporate Annual Partners program, expand the prospect pipeline, and reinforce stewardship with current corporate donors. Additionally, our database management efforts have maintained data integrity, ensuring continued data entry and reporting until a permanent replacement is secured.
Impact Our multi-year partnership has had a profound impact, with individual giving revenue increasing by an impressive 136%, resulting in substantial growth in annual donations. This significant growth has allowed Cornerstones to expand and enhance its programs, furthering its mission of helping Northern Virginia residents achieve self-sufficiency. The success of Cornerstones’ 50th-anniversary celebration strengthened donor relationships, and the recruitment of a new Vice President of Resource Development has fortified Cornerstones’ position for future growth and impact. The collaboration also significantly expanded Cornerstones’ corporate and individual donor base, ensuring ongoing support for their critical programs. Together, we have played a pivotal role in Cornerstones’ journey towards a more self-sufficient Northern Virginia community.